Brace



Jan. 3, 1928.

C. D. MILLER ET AL BRACE Filed Sept. 29. 1926 g INVENTORS M "9. Mad y g, 1 1 4;

ATTONEY' Patented Jan. 3, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CARL D. MILLER, OF PITTSBURGH, AND FRANK P. SLOCUM, OF HOMESTEAD, PENN- SYL'V'ANIA.

BBACE.

Application filed September 29, 1926. Serial 170. 188,371.

Our invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in braces, and while primarily intended for bridgin in the s stem of bracing commonly use between oor and other timbers to stiffen them and to distribute the weight, it will be obvious that the device may be employed for any other purposes wherein it is found to be applicable.

Important objects or the invention are to provide a brace of the character descr bed, which may be readily attached in position without the use of nails or any other separate securing elements, which will automatically tighten itself in position upon shrinkage or contraction of the timber associated therewith, and which embodies timber engaging elements that will not accidently loosen from their engaged position.

Further objects of the invention are to provide a device of the type stated, WhlCh is simple in its construct1on and arrange ment, strong durable and efiicient in its use, attractive in appearance, and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture and attach.

With the foregoing and other ob ects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, but t is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications may be resorted to that come within the scope of the claims hereunto appended. I

In the drawing wherein like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a cross sectional view of a pair of joists illustrating the application of our improved braces as bridging thereto.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the brace broken away at its center.

Fi ure 3 is a fragmentary side view of the evice illustrating its connection with a joist, the latter being in cross section and partly broken away.

Figure 4 is a plan view of a modified form of the brace partly broken away.

Referrin in detail to the drawin 1 denotes an e ongated body portion, w ich is substantially V-shaped in transverse cross section. It is obvious, however, that the cross sectional contour of the body portion may be varied to best meet conditions found in ractice.

ach end portion of the body portion 1 is flattened, as indicated at 2, and is formed to provide an integral attaching element 3, The attaching elements 3 are substantially Z-shaped, and are positioned on opposite sides of the body portion 1, and are disposed to extend in opposite directions relatively to respective side edges of the neck 6. The

lower end of each of the marginal side edges of the inclined member 4 is formed with a recess 9, which facilitates the flexure of the member 4 at its juncture with the body portion 1, when the head 5 is driven to the engaging position.

The application of our improved brace as bridging etween adjacent joists 10 and 11, is clearly illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawing. The body portion 1 is disposed to extend diagonall in the conventional manner between the joists 10 and 11. A hammer is the only tool required for attaching the bridging, and by striking the inner end and inner side of the inclined member 4, the latter will be driven from its normal inclined position, to the perpendicular position a ainst the side face of the joists 10 and 11, and the head 5 and neck 6 will be entirely embedded in the horizontal position in the joists, as clearly shown in Figure 3 of the drawing.

The relative conformation of the heads 5 and associated necks 6, will prevent the accidental disengagement of the attaching elements 3 from the joists 10 and 11, and their removal from the latter is only effected with considerable dificulty.

In metal bridging now commonly used,

the usual shrinkage of the joists causes them to loosen from the engaging position, thereby destroying their utility. In the use of our improved bridging, however, the contraction side edge thereof. The purpose of the notches 12is to render the retraction of the head 5 still more difiicult,

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing the construction and application of the invent-ion will. be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which it appertains, and while describing and illustrating what is now thought to be the best embodiment of the device, it is to be understood that changes in the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages that come within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

What we claim is:

1. A brace comprising an elongated body portion, each end of said bod portion formmg a substantially Z-shape attaching element having the outer part thereof providing a penetrable anchoring head formed with a neck of reduced width with respect thereto and offset with respect to the body portion to extend in a plane parallel to the plane thereof.

2. A brace comprising an elongated body portion, each end of sai body portion forming a substantially Z-shaped attaching element having the outer part thereof providing a penetrable anchoring head formed with a neck of reduced width with respect thereto and offset with respect to the body portion to extend in a plane parallel to the plane thereof, said attaching elements disposed on opposite sides of said body ortion with respect to each other, and sai attaching elementfurther extending in opposite directions relatively to each other.

3. A brace comprisin an elongated metallic body portion, eac end portion of said body portion formed to provide a substantially Z-shaped attaching element having the outer part thereof providing a triangular shape penetrable anchoring head having its base formed with a reduced neck and with the head offset with respect to the bod portion to extend in a plane parallel to t e plane of the latter.

4. A brace comprising an elongated metallic body portion, each end portion of said body ortion being formed to provide a substantially Z-shaped attaching element having the outer part thereof roviding a triangular shaped penetrable anc oring head having its base formed with a reduced neck and with the head offset with respect to the body portion to extend in a plane parallel to the lane of the latter, said attachin elements isposed on opposite sides of said1ody portion with respect to each other, and said attaching elements further extending in opposite directions relatively to each other.

5. In a metallic brace of the character described, an attaching element integrally formed with each end of the brace and comprising an angularly disposed inwardly inclined member, an outwardly disposed penetrable head providing an anchoring means and a neck connecting said member with said head and aligned with the latter.

6. In a metallic brace of the character described, an attaching element integrally formed with each end of the brace and comprising an angularly disposed inwardly inclined member, an outwardly disposed penetrable head providing an anchoring means a neck connec ng said member with sai head, said neck longitudinally aligned with said head and of less width than the latter, said attaching elements being disposed on opposite sides of the brace relatively to each other.

In testimony whereof we afiix our signatures.

CARL D. MILLER. FRANK P. SLOCUM. 

